LouisBerk.com photography

Save Bell by Rob Ryan

The Whitechapel Bell Foundry is the first building in my book "Whitehcapel In 50 Buildings" and was chosen because of its unique and important historical status. The foundry is set to close this year and it uncertain how the buildings will be used in the future. It would be a magnificent outcome if they are preserved for future generations. You can find out how to help by reading the article at Spitalfields Life.

On a recent photographic activity in central London for a forthcoming book by my friend Rachel Kolsky I happened upon this tableau which to me is a classic British scene - almost something out of the 'swinging sixties'.

I love the old mini shape - and this was one of the last versions produced, I think sometime at the turn of the millenium. In this case it looks as though it has been modified with an eyecatching colour scheme, nice 'boots' (as we called wheels sometime in the 1970s!) and a full length sun roof. The owners, 'Small Car Big City' specialise in mini-hire and tours around London in a mini. 

A photograph from last Wednesday about 20 minutes after sunset looking down Whitechapel Road towards the City and the unmistakable outline of the 'Gherkin'. The sky really did turn a deep purple as the last rays of the sunset lit up the clouds.

Happy New Year 2017 from LouisBerk.com. Thank you to everyone who has supported my work in 2016, it is very much appreciated.

This dramatic photograph was taken in Camden Town, on Christmas Eve. I slowed the shutter down and waited for a new Red Routemaster to come into the frame hoping to achieve red and white light trails. It only took about 5 tries to get everything right!

It has been several months since I have been for a walk around the Brick Lane area so this 'hole' on Wentworth Street, as the result of the demolition of much of the Toynbee Hall estate was quite a dramatic surprise to me.

The entrance first established in 1739 on Whitechapel High Street

Spitalfields Life and the Daily Mail, amongst others, have broken the news that the Whitechapel Bell Foundry is to close when the current owner, Alan Hughes, retires in May 2017.

In this blog entry I show some of the photographs I took in August 2008 when my wife and I were fortunate enough to get places on a tour of the foundry.

Idea Store - Whitechapel Road

Londonist Out Loud has published a podcast this week which features a tour around Whitechapel with my co-author based on our book Whitechapel in 50 Buildings. Follow this link to listen to the podcast!

This month's (November 2016) issue of the Kentish Towner local cultural guide includes a feature article I wrote comparing my photographs of Whitechapel with photographs of similar buildings in Kentish Town. I make the point that London is really a group of joined up villages - each with its own distinct style - but some common themes, achitecturally.

Click on the photograph to see a larger size - Sigma DP3M Merrill

I am not a gardener at all but my wife is passionate about her plants and bulbs. I do enjoy photographing the delicate blooms and some are more of challenge than others. This Verbena Bonariensis is still going strong as we head from October into November. 

You can click through to a larger image on Flickr

I remember in my early days as a photographer a much more knowledgeable friend cautioning me about trying to photograph the moon. This was, of course back in the days before digital photography. The reason is that our eyes are fantastic optical tools and we selectively zoom into objects subsconsciously. So, when we see a large moon it is part physics (the moon is actually larger in the sky at certain times) but also biology. If you try to photograph the moon it is likely to be only a pinpoint of light unless you use a reasonably large telephoto lens.

Early this morning (about 4:30AM in the UK) it was a 'Supermoon'. Sometimes also called a 'Hunter's' moon.

How then to photograph it and make it worthwhile rather than a fool's errand?